the metal monster-第34章

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ithin　a　hood　shaped　somewhat　like　the　tight…fitting　head　coverings　of　the　Crusaders　a　pallid；　cruel　face　looked　out　upon　us；　in　the　fierce　black　eyes　was　no　trace　of　fear。

Evil　as　Norhala　had　said　these　people　of　Ruszark　were；　wicked　and　cruelthey　were　no　cowards；　no！

The　red　armored　man　threw　up　a　hand。

〃Who　are　you？〃　he　shouted。　〃Who　are　you　three；　you　three　who　come　driving　down　upon　Ruszark　through　the　rocks？　We　have　no　quarrel　with　you？〃

〃I　seek　a　man　and　a　maid；〃　cried　Norhala。　〃A　maid　and　a　sick　man　your　thieves　took　from　me。　Bring　him　forth！〃

〃Seek　elsewhere　for　them　then；〃　he　answered。　〃They　are　not　here。　Turn　now　and　seek　elsewhere。　Go　quickly；　lest　I　loose　our　might　upon　you　and　you　go　never。〃

Mockingly　rang　her　laughterand　under　its　lash　the　black　eyes　grew　fiercer；　the　cruelty　on　the　white　face　darkened。

〃Little　man　whose　words　are　so　big！　Fly　who　thunders！　What　are　you　called；　little　man？〃

Her　raillery　bit　deepbut　its　menace　passed　unheeded　in　the　rage　it　called　forth。

〃I　am　Kulun；〃　shouted　the　man　in　scarlet　armor。　〃Kulun；　the　son　of　Cherkis　the　Mighty；　and　captain　of　his　hosts。　Kulunwho　will　cast　your　skin　under　my　mares　in　stall　for　them　to　trample　and　thrust　your　red　flayed　body　upon　a　pole　in　the　grain　fields　to　frighten　away　the　crows！　Does　that　answer　you？〃

Her　laughter　ceased；　her　eyes　dwelt　upon　himfilled　with　an　infernal　joy。

〃The　son　of　Cherkis！〃　I　heard　her　murmur。　〃He　has　a　son〃

There　was　a　sneer　on　the　cruel　face；　clearly　he　thought　her　awed。　Quick　was　his　disillusionment。

〃Listen；　Kulun；〃　she　cried。　〃I　am　Norhaladaughter　of　another　Norhala　and　of　Rustum；　whom　Cherkis　tortured　and　slew。　Now　go；　you　lying　spawn　of　unclean　toadsgo　and　tell　your　father　that　I；　Norhala；　am　at　his　gates。　And　bring　back　with　you　the　maid　and　the　man。　Go；　I　say！〃





CHAPTER　XXV

CHERKIS

There　was　stark　amazement　on　Kulun's　face；　and　fear　now　enough。　He　dropped　from　the　parapet　among　his　men。　There　came　one　loud　trumpet　blast。

Out　from　the　battlements　poured　a　storm　of　arrows；　a　cloud　of　javelins。　The　squat　catapults　leaped　forward。　From　them　came　a　hail　of　boulders。　Before　that　onrushing　tempest　of　death　I　flinched。

I　heard　Norhala's　golden　laughter　and　before　they　could　reach　us　arrow　and　javelin　and　boulder　were　checked　as　though　myriads　of　hands　reached　out　from　the　Thing　under　us　and　caught　them。　Down　they　dropped。

Forth　from　the　great　spindle　shot　a　gigantic　arm；　hammer　tipped　with　cubes。　It　struck　the　wall　close　to　where　the　scarlet　armored　Kulun　had　vanished。

Under　its　blow　the　stones　crumbled。　With　the　fragments　fell　the　soldiers；　were　buried　beneath　them。

A　hundred　feet　in　width　a　breach　gaped　in　the　battlements。　Out　shot　the　arm　again；　hooked　its　hammer　tip　over　the　parapet；　tore　away　a　stretch　of　the　breastwork　as　though　it　had　been　cardboard。　Beside　the　breach　an　expanse　of　the　broad　flat　top　lay　open　like　a　wide　platform。

The　arm　withdrew；　and　out　from　the　whole　length　of　the　spindle　thrust　other　arms；　hammer　tipped；　held　high　aloft；　menacing。

From　all　the　length　of　the　wall　arose　panic　outcry。　Abruptly　the　storm　of　arrows　ended；　the　catapults　were　still。　Again　the　trumpets　sounded；　the　crying　ceased。　Down　fell　a　silence；　terrified；　stifling。

Kulun　stepped　forth　again；　both　hands　held　high。　Gone　was　his　arrogance。

〃A　parley；〃　he　shouted。　〃A　parley；　Norhala。　If　we　give　you　the　maid　and　man；　will　you　go？〃

〃Go　get　them；〃　she　answered。　〃And　take　with　you　this　my　command　to　Cherkisthat　HE　return　with　the　two！〃

For　an　instant　Kulun　hesitated。　Up　thrust　the　dreadful　arms；　poised　themselves　to　strike。

〃It　shall　be　so；〃　he　shouted。　〃I　carry　your　command。〃

He　leaped　back；　his　red　mail　flashed　toward　a　turret　that　held；　I　supposed；　a　stairway。　He　was　lost　to　sight。　In　silence　we　waited。

On　the　further　side　of　the　city　I　glimpsed　movement。　Little　troops　of　mounted　men；　pony　drawn　wains；　knots　of　running　figures　were　fleeing　from　the　city　through　the　opposite　gates。

Norhala　saw　them　too。　With　that　incomprehensible；　instant　obedience　to　her　unspoken　thought　a　mass　of　the　Metal　Things　separated　from　us；　whirled　up　into　a　dozen　of　those　obelisked　forms　I　had　seen　march　from　the　cat　eyes　of　the　City　of　the　Pit。

In　but　a　breath；　it　seemed；　their　columns　were　far　off；　herding　back　the　fugitives。

They　did　not　touch　them；　did　not　offer　to　harmonly；　grotesquely；　like　dogs　heading　off　and　corraling　frightened　sheep；　they　circled　and　darted。　Rushing　back　came　those　they　herded。

From　the　watching　terraces　and　walls　arose　shrill　cries　of　terror；　a　wailing。　Far　away　the　obelisks　met；　pirouetted；　melted　into　one　thick　column。　Towering；　motionless　as　we；　it　stood；　guarding　the　further　gates。

There　was　a　stir　upon　the　wall；　a　flashing　of　spears；　of　drawn　blades。　Two　litters　closed　with　curtainings；　surrounded　by　triple　rows　of　swordsmen　fully　armored；　carrying　small　shields　and　led　by　Kulun　were　being　borne　to　the　torn　battlement。

Their　bearers　stopped　well　within　the　platform　and　gently　lowered　their　burdens。　The　leader　of　those　around　the　second　litter　drew　aside　its　covering；　spoke。

Out　stepped　Ruth　and　after　herVentnor！

〃Martin！〃　I　could　not　keep　back　the　cry；　heard　mingled　with　it　Drake's　own　cry　to　Ruth。　Ventnor　raised　his　hand　in　greeting；　I　thought　he　smiled。

The　cubes　on　which　we　stood　shot　forward；　stopped　within　fifty　feet　of　them。　Instantly　the　guard　of　swordsmen　raised　their　blades；　held　them　over　the　pair　as　though　waiting　the　signal　to　strike。

And　now　I　saw　that　Ruth　was　not　clad　as　she　had　been　when　we　had　left　her。　She　stood　in　scanty　kirtle　that　came　scarcely　to　her　knees；　her　shoulders　were　bare；　her　curly　brown　hair　unbound　and　tangled。　Her　face　was　set　with　wrath　hardly　less　than　that　which　beat　from　Norhala。　On　Ventnor's　forehead　was　a　blood　red　scar；　a　line　that　ran　from　temple　to　temple　like　a　brand。

The　curtains　of　the　first　litter　quivered；　behind　them　someone　spoke。　That　in　which　Ruth　and　Ventnor　had　ridden　was　drawn　swiftly　away。　The　knot　of　swordsmen　drew　back。

Into　their　places　sprang　and　knelt　a　dozen　archers。　They　ringed　in　the　two；　bows　drawn　taut；　arrows　in　place　and　pointing　straight　to　their　hearts。

Out　of　the　litter　rolled　a　giant　of　a　man。　Seven　feet　he　must　have　been　in　height；　over　the　huge　shoulders；　the　barreled　chest　and　the　bloated　abdomen　hung　a　purple　cloak　glittering　with　gems；　through　the　thick　and　grizzled　hair　passed　a　flashing　circlet　of　jewels。

The　scarlet　armored　Kulun　beside　him；　swordsmen　guarding　them；　he　walked　to　the　verge　of　the　torn　gap　in　the　wall。　He　peered　down　it；　glancing　imperturbably　at　the　upraised；　hammer…banded　arms　still　threatening；　examined　again　the　breach。　Then　still　with　Kulun　he　strode　over　to　the　very　edge　of　the　broken　battlement　and　stood；　head　thrust　a　little　forward；　studying　us　in　silence。


〃Cherkis！〃　whispered　Norhalathe　whisper　was　a　hymn　to　Nemesis。　I　felt　her　body　quiver　from　head　to　foot。

A　wave　of　hatred；　a　hot　desire　to　kill；　passed　through　me　as　I　scanned　the　face　staring　at　us。　It　was　a　great　gross　mask　of　evil；　of　cold　cruelty　and　callous　lusts。　Unwinking；　icily　malignant；　black　slits　of　eyes　glared　at　us　between　pouches　that　held　them　half　closed。　Heavy　jowls　hung　pendulous；　dragging　down　the　corners　of　the　thick　lipped；　brutal　mouth　into　a　deep　graven；　unchanging　sneer。

As　he　gazed　at　Norhala　a　flicker　of　lust　shot　like　a　licking　tongue　through　his　eyes。

Yet　from　him　pulsed　power；　sinister；　instinct　with　evil；　concentrate　with　crueltybut　power　indomitable。　Such　was　Cherkis；　descendant　perhaps　of　that　Xerxes　the　Conqueror　who　three　millenniums　gone　ruled　most　of　the　known　world。

It　was　Norhala　who　broke　the　silence。

〃Tcherak！　GreetingCherkis！〃　There　was　merciless　mirth　in　the　buglings　of　her　voice。　〃Lo；　I　did　but　knock　so　gently　at　your　gates　and　you　hastened　to　welcome　me。　Greetingsgross　swine；　spittle　of　the　toads；　fat　slug　beneath　my　sandals。〃

He　passed　the　insults　by；　unmovedalthough　I　heard　a　murmuring　go　up　from　those　near　and　Kulun's　hard　eyes　blazed。

〃We　will　bargain；　Norhala；〃　he　answered　calmly；　the　voice　was　deep；　filled　with　sinister　strength。

〃Bargain？〃　she　laughed。　〃What　have　you　with　which　to　bargain；　Cherkis？　Does　the　rat　bargain　with　the　tigress？　And　you；　toad；　have　nothing。〃

He　shook　his　head。

〃I　have　these；〃　he　waved　a　hand　toward　Ruth　and　her　brother。　〃Me　you　may　slayand　mayhap　many　of　mine。　But　before　you　can　move　my　archers　will　feather　their　hearts。〃

She　considered　him；　no　longer　mocking。

〃Two　of　mine　you　slew　long　since；　Cherkis；〃　she　said；　slowly。　〃Therefore　it　is　I　am　here。〃

〃I　know；〃　he　nodded　heavily。　〃Yet　now　that　is　neither　here　nor　there；　Norhala。　It　was　long　since；　and　I　have　learned　much　during　the　years。　I　would　have　killed　you　too；　Norhala；　could　I　have　found　you。　But　now　I　would　not　do　as　thenquite　differently　would　I　do；　Norhala；　for　I　have　learned　much。　I　am　sorry　that　those　that　you　loved　died　as　they　did。　I　am　in　truth　sorry！〃

There　was　a　curious　lurking　sardonicism　in　the　words；　an　undertone　of　mockery。　Was　what　he　really　meant　that　in　those　years　he　had　learned　to　inflict　greater　agonies；　more　exquisite　tortures？　If　so；　Norhala　apparently　did　not　sense　that　interpretation。　Indeed；　she　seemed　to　be　interested；　her　wrath　abating。

〃No；〃　the　hoarse　voice　rumbled　dispassionately。　〃None　of　that　is　importantnow。　YOU　would　have　this　man　and　girl。　I　hold　them。　They　die　if　you　stir　a　hand's　breadth　toward　me。　If　they　die；　I　prevail　against　youfor　I　have　cheated　you　of　what　you　desire。　I　win；　Norhala；　even　though　you　slay　me。　That　is　all　that　is　now　important。〃

There　was　doubt　upon　Norhala's　face　and　I　caught　a　quick　gleam　of　contemptuous　triumph　glint　through　the　depths　of　the　evil　eyes。

〃Empty　will　be　your　victory　over　me；　Norhala；〃　he　said；　then　waited。

〃What　is　your　bargain？〃　she　spoke　hesitatingly；　with　a　sinking　of　my　heart　I　heard　the　doubt　tremble　in　her　throat。

〃If　you　will　go　without　further　knocking　upon　my　gates〃there　was　a　satiric　grimness　in　the　phrase〃go　when　you　have　been　given　them；　and　pledge　yourself　never　to　returnyou　shall　have　them。　If　you　will　not；　then　they　die。〃

〃But　what　security；　what　hostages；　do　you　ask？〃　Her　eyes　were　troubled。　〃I　cannot　swear　by　your　gods；　Cherkis；　for　they　are　not　my　godsin　truth　I；　Norhala；　have　no　gods。　Why　should　I　not　say　yes　and　take　the　two；　then　fall　upon　you　and　destroyas　you　would　do　in　my　place；　old　wolf？〃

〃Norhala；〃　he　answered；　〃I　ask　nothing　but　your　word。　Do　I　not　know　those　who　bore　you　and　the　line　from　which　they　sprung？　Was　not　always　the　word　they　gave　kept　till　deathunbroken；　inviolable？　No　need　for　vows　to　gods　between　you　and　me。　Your　word　is　holier　than　they　O　glorious　daughter　of　kings；　princess　royal！〃


The　great　voice　was　harshly　caressing；　not　obsequious；　but　as　though　he　gave　her　as　an　equal　her　rightful　honor。　Her　face　softened；　she　considered　him　from　eyes　far　less　hostile。

A　wholesome　respect　for　this　gross　tyrant's　mentality　came　to　me；　it　did　not　temper；　it　heightened；　the　hatred　I　felt　for　him。　But　now　I　recognized　the　subtlety　of　his　attack；　realized　that　unerringly　he　had　taken　the　only　means　by　which　he　could　have　gained　a　hearing；　have　temporize